Steve Ewen: Lions expect Jonathon Jennings to be better, but how much?

If you’re a B.C. Lions fan, it can be fun playing the stats comparison game with Jonathon Jennings.

Jennings, 24, took over the starting quarterback job with the Canadian Football League squad midway through the 2015 campaign, and was at the controls for the majority of last season, when he threw for 5,226 yards, to go with 27 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

He’s expected to again have that No. 1 gig when B.C. kicks off the 2017 regular season on June 24 with a visit from the Edmonton Eskimos.

Consider that Bo Levi Mitchell saw limited duty as the No. 1 pivot for the Calgary Stampeders in 2013. By 2015, he was throwing for 4,551 yards, with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Last year, he went for 5,385 yards through the air, to go along with 32 majors and eight picks, and was named the CFL’s most outstanding player.

Travis Lulay was in his third season with the Lions and second full campaign as the starting quarterback in 2011. That was the year he was named the CFL’s MOP, thanks to his 4,815 yards, to go with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Khari Jones, now the Lions’ offensive coordinator, was in his second full season as the main man under centre with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2001 when he took MOP honours, after putting up 4,545 yards, 30 touchdown and 23 interceptions. His numbers were even better the following campaign, with 5,334 yards, 46 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.

It’s far from scientific. It’s compelling to think about, especially if the Lions are your team.

“I remember in 2002 it felt like the game had got easy at times,” Jones, 45, explained Wednesday. “It’s hard to get that feeling. It’s certainly nice to get that feeling.

“It’s just that experience. It’s seeing it out there on the field. Nothing takes the place of that, of seeing things again and again. You’re just better at reading the defence and knowing how they’re trying to trick you.

“I’m excited for Jonathon. I’m looking forward to his maturity as a quarterback. It may not automatically come through in the stats, but we are going to see him be a better overall quarterback.”

There are some flaws with our argument. We admit it. Among them, Mitchell just turned 27, Lulay was 28 in 2011 and Jones was 31 in 2002. Jennings doesn’t turn 25 until July.

Jones contends that quarterbacks find their form at various ages, though.

“I think the biggest thing is when your mental and physical abilities are peaking together … when you’re at the height of both,” he said. “Sometimes it happens earlier. Sometimes guys are able to sustain it for awhile. You look at Tom Brady. I’d argue he’s playing the best football he ever has right now and he’s about to turn 40. He’s been able to stay at his peak physically.”

Jennings lost a favourite target in the off-season when slotback Shawn Gore, 30, who finished third on the Lions in receptions (59) and receiving yards (835) in 2016, opted to retire to join the Vancouver Police Department.

They added an offensive weapon, too, with the signing of free-agent wide receiver Chris Williams, 29. Last season with the Ottawa Redblacks, he finished tied for second in the CFL in touchdown receptions (10), behind only the Lions’ Manny Arceneaux (13), and sixth in receiving yards (1,246), despite missing the final four regular-season games with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus.

“Chris Williams scares people. I know he scared me when he was in Hamilton and when he was in Ottawa,” explained Wally Buono, the Lions general manager and coach.

“And there’s a reason why he scares you. He’s explosive, he’s dangerous. You take away the injury last year, and I’m not sure his numbers aren’t even more impressive.

“My whole theme as both coach and GM was to surround our quarterback with the best weapons he could have.”

It will be interesting to see what kind of step forward that quarterback takes this season, with a little more experience under his belt.

“I think I’ve grown a lot from my first year,” said Jennings. “First year is a time where you have to play off your natural ability and not think too much. Early last season, I was starting to think a little too much, like I knew something. I knew a little bit more than I did in my first season, but I was still growing and trying to manage those emotions.

“As it went on, you do continue to see more and more. You see it through practice and the game and the tape. You continue to learn and you continue to become more comfortable with your receivers. That’s been a big thing.”

Wally Buono holds court for his players during B.C. Lions training camp in Kamloops last year.

Leos love The Loops

B.C. Lions vice-president of business George Chayka said on a conference call Wednesday that the team is working on extending its agreement to have training camp in Kamloops past this season.

This will mark the Lions’ eighth year in Kamloops. They will practise at Hillside Stadium and use facilities at Thompson Rivers University beginning May 25 with a three-day mini-camp for rookies. The full team hits the field on May 28.

“Kamloops has been an exceptional host for training camp. The community support has been excellent, the corporate support has been excellent and the city has been fantastic to work with,” Chayka said. “We’re optimistic to have an announcement in the near future about extending our agreement.”

Marty Hastings from Kamloops This Week quoted Jeff Putnam, the City of Kamloops’ parks and facilities manager, as saying: “I can’t give any details on confirming it, but I can tell you we have been in active discussion and we’re hopeful we can finalize a training camp extension beyond this year. We’re super excited about the possibility of that.”

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